Fireplace screen



March 3, 1942. J. F. SHANNON 2,275,236

FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed Jan. 30, 1940 INVENTOR. Jzmzs f Ska/mm Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 30, 1940, Serial No. 316,338

7 Claims:

This invention relates to supports for fireplace screens of the collapsible draw curtain type or of panel type. 7

Metal fireplace screeens of a type capable of being suspended from rods and drawn like curtains either in front of or to one side of the fireplace are much in demand. These screens are sometimes supported from frames that are independent of the, fireplace but these independent supports take up a considerable amount of room, are easily upset or pushed out of place and are often unsightly. Securing screen supports of this type directly to the fireplace overcomes the objections to independent or detached screen supports but the screen supports that have heretofore been secured to the fireplace have usually required the services of mechanics and the use of special tools to install and have required drilling or other mutilation of the fireplace with the consequent danger of breaking the tile or brick or masonry and rendering the fireplace unsightly.

In accordance with this invention I overcome the above described objections by providing a fireplace screen support that can be secured to a fireplace very quickly andeasily by unskilled persons without danger of injuring or mutilating the fireplace. 7

It is an object of this invention to provide fireplace screen supporting means of simple, efiicient and inexpensive construction that can be quickly and easily secured to a fireplace by unskilled labor without the use of any tools except a wrench or pair of pliers and without injury to the fireplace and that is quicklyand easily detached from said fireplace.

It is another object of this invention to provide fireplace screen supporting means that may be positioned within the combustion chamber of a fireplace and rigidly but releasably secured to said fireplace by expanding said supporting means against the walls of the fireplace combustion chamber.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fireplace having screen means and screen supporting means constructed in accordance with this invention, the screen means being drawn to the sides of the fireplace.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in plan, on a larger scale than Fig. 1, taken substantially on broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of a fiat bar shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on broken line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing a sleeve member for the fiat bars.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of an extensible support constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, with parts in section showing fireplace screen supporting means of modified construction employing two upright extensible supporting members positioned at opposite sides of the fireplace combustion chamber and supporting the means that carries the screens.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of one of the fiat bars shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation on broken line 8-8 of Fig. 6. r

Fig. 9, is a plan view, with parts in section, of another modified form of screen supporting means.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation showing flexible fireplace screens supported directly on an extensible supporting rod that extends crosswise of the upper portion of a fireplace combustion chamber.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

In accordance with this invention I provide one or more extensible supporting members adapted to be placed within the combusion chamber of a fireplace I3, Fig. 1, and expanded against the walls of the fireplace combustion chamber to secure said supporting member or members in fixed position whereby one or more fireplace screens may be directly supported thereon or other means upon which the screens are hung may be supported by the supporting member or members.

Collapsible metal screens of the type herein contemplated may be formed'of interlaced wire helices or metal mesh or in any other desired manner to provide a metal screen that may be drawn like a curtain.

The extensible supporting members used in connection with all forms of this invention are best illustrated in Fig. 5. Each extensible supporting member comprises a larger tubular member l4 and a smaller tubular member I 5. The smaller tubular member I5 is telescopically disposed within an end portion of the larger tubular member M. The tubular members l4 and I5 are preferably of thin strong metal, such as bronze, stainless steel, or a like metal of ornamental appearance. The smaller tubular member 15 preferably fits snugly within the larger tubular member l4 whereby said I twomembers l4 and are maintainedinaccurate alignment and will not sag but are relatively adjustably supported within a sleeve 3i.

erably screws 3i aroused to secure the sleeve 3| movable rotatively and longitudinally for the purpose of adjustment.

One of the tubular members, such as the member II, has a nut I 6 fixedly secured therein by means such as pins I! which extend through the tubular member 14 and are pressed into the nut it. Obviously other means may be employed to fixedly secure the nut i6 within the member II. The other tubular member i has a threaded rod i lfixedly secured thereto as by pins I8. The rod I8 is threaded into the nut l6. Turning the two tubular members i4 and i5 relative to each other will turn the threaded rod IS in the nut I3 and this will increase or decrease the combined over all length of said two members H and ii.

The outer end portion of each member I4 and i5 is provided with a fitting comprising a cylindrical portion fitted into and secured within 5 and a prong portion 23 on theend thereof. The

portion 2i may be hexagonal or any suitable shape to receive a tool, such as a wrench or pair 2,275,230 I j A and ma bars :1 together. The front side of tilebars 21 and sleeve 3! are preferably of ornamental appearance.

Bracket plates 32 arev welded or otherwise rigidly secured within the doubled end portions of the bars 21 and holes 33 are provided in these bracket plates for receiving the end portions of a rod 34 that extends across the frontv of the fireplace parallel to the bars 21 and is spaced a short distance back of said bars 21 so that it will be 3 hidden from view and still provide clearance for of pliers, by which the tubular member connected place combustion chamber. Preferably spring washers 24, or other members as hereinafter described,'are placed over the'prongs 23 to such an extent that much of the thrust is borne by the said spring washers or other members and the prongs 23 enter the brick work, masonry or tile of the fireplace only a shortdistance. The prongs 23 thus help to hold the parts in' place but do not objectionably mar the fireplace.

In Fig. 10,- I show one simple method of using this extensible support to support collapsible metal fireplace screens 25 of the draw curtain type. In this instance I slip the rings 23 by which the screens 25 are supported over the extensible support and then secure the extensible support crosswise of the fireplace combustion chamber adjacent the top of the fireplace opening. This supports the screens 25 and allows them to be opened by drawing toward one side and closed by, drawing toward center.

Figs. 1 to 4 show another method of using this extensible support to fasten to the fireplace de-.

vices on which screens are carried. This structure comprises two flat metal bars 21 of duplicate construction. Each bar; has one endbent re-,- verselyin substantiallyM shape to provide a portion 28 that is spaced from the main part of member 23 adapted to extend into the combustion chamber of the fireplace and rest against the side wall of the same. Each tip member 29 is provided with a. hole 30 through which a prong 23 on the extensible member may extend; The inner ends of the fiat bars are telescopically and Prefthe screen rings" that are slidably disposed on said rod 34.

- The collapsible metal screens 25 are shown drawn to the sides or the fireplace in Fig. 1, and the rings 26 are similarly positioned in Fig. 2.

The U shaped outer end portions of the flat bars 21 extend beyond the edges of the opening in the fireplace and the screen supporting rod 34" extends substantially to the outer ends of the bars. This provides for supporting the screens 23 in front of the fireplace with the outer edges of the screens extending beyond and hiding the edges or the fire .ace opening. Also it provides more clearance Lstween the two screens when they are drawn to the sides of the fireplace than is provided by the structure of Fig. 10.

Obviously the 'U shaped end portions may be of any desired length so as to extend any desired place a short distance and the washers 24 are I mutilation distance beyond the edges of the opening in the v fireplace.

The portions 23 of the bars 21 are positioned against the front of the fireplaca- The prongs 23 extend through the holes 33 in the tip members 29 andproject into the-masonry of the fireclamped tightly against the tip members 29. This provides a very firm and substantial structure that can. be applied to a fireplace 'very quickly and by an unskilled person without the use of s ial tools and without requiring any f the fireplace. Also this support, when so applied, will not become loose but can be quickly and easily removed if desired.

Figs. 6, 7 and ,8 show a structure in which two upright extensible supports, of the type shown in Fig. 5, are positioned near opposite side walls of the fireplace opening and used to support cross bar and rod means of a form similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In this structure the reversely bent outer end portions of the fiat bars are modified by omitting the tip members 29 and providing in place thereof fiat plate members 35 that extend between the upper end portions of the extensible'supports and the'top wall of the fireplace opening and are provided with holes 33 through which the prongs 23 extend. The

plate members 35 are preferably welded or otherbar portion 23 so that when they are installed as shown in Fig. 8, they will support the bar members 21 high enough to hide the top edge of the fireplace opening.

The remaining parts of the structure shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and are similarly numbered.

In the event the top of the fireplace opening is provided with a metal plate that the prongs 23 will not penetrate then 1 preferably provide enough additional washers on the prong 23 to hold the tip of the prong clear of the metal plate. I

When this is done the pressure of the extensible members provides ample clamping action to hold the parts firmly in place.

The structure shown in Fig.9, comprises two 2 shaped plates or brackets 36 supported from the fireplace by an extensible support in the same manner as the bars 212829 shown in Figs. 1

to 4. Another extensible member 31, longer than the member which supports the Z brackets 36 has its end prongs 23 projected through holes 38 inthe Z brackets 36 and is supported by said 2 brackets. The rings 26 of the screens 25 are slidably disposed on the extensible member 31.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing clearly discloses certain preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that these disclosures are merely illustrative and that changes may be made within the scope and sp'rit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A support for a metal fireplace screen comprising supporting members longitudinally movable relative to each other; and non-yielding means for extending and rigidly holding said supporting members in clamping engagement with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber.

2. Fireplace screen means for supporting collapsible metal draw, screens comprising supporting members longitudinally movable relative to each other; and non-yielding means for extending and rigidly holding said supporting members firmly in contact with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber; and collapsible metal screen members of draw curtain type supported by said supporting members.

3. A support for a metal fireplace screen comprising two substantially aligned supporting members longitudinally movable relative to each other; a prong on the outer end portion of each supporting member; spring washer means on said' prongs; and means for relatively extending said supporting members and holding the same in clamping engagement with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber with the prongs lapsible metal draw screens comprising supporting members longitudinally movable relative to each other; means for extending and holding said supporting members in clamping engagement with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber; two fiat bar members having U shaped outer end portions provided with inwardly extending tips that are secured between the outer ends of said supporting members and the walls of the fireplace combustion chamber; a sleeve member telescopically receiving the inner end portions of said two flat bar members; and a screensupporting rod positioned adjacent the rear of said fiat bar members with its end portions extending into the U shaped end portions of saidfiat bar members and engaged therewith.

6. Fireplace screen means for supporting collapsible metal draw screens comprising two relatlvely telescopic tubular supporting members; screw means adapted to expand said supporting members into clamping engagement with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber; two fiat bar members extending across the fireplace combustion chamber adjacent the upper edge thereof and having U shaped outer end portions' adapted to extend beyond the sides of the fireplace combustion chamber and rest against the fireplace and further having inwardly extending tip portions that are held between the outer ends of said supporting members and the fireplace walls whereby said fiat bars are supported; a. sleeve member telescopically receiving the inner end portions of said two fiat bar members; and a screen supporting rod positioned adjacent the rear of said fiat bar members with its end portions extending into the U shaped end portions of said fiat bar members and engaged therewith.

7. Fireplace screen means for supporting collapsible metal draw screenscomprising supporting members longitudinally movable relative to each other; means for extending and holding said supporting members in clamping engagement with opposite walls of a fireplace combustion chamber; two 2 shaped bracket members secured between the ends of said supporting members and the walls of the fireplace combustion chamber; and a telescopic extensible screen supporting member supported horizontally of the upper portion of the fireplace by said 2 shaped bracket members.

JAMES F. SHANNON. 

